"Those CVWMA trucks go straight to the landfill with all that recycling!"

Have you heard that rumor? Wondered if it could be true? Because I have. But I was lucky enough to go on a tour of the TFC Recycling Facility off of Route 10 on Chester just last week. And let me tell you, it was loud, it was smelly, and boy, were they getting some recycling done!

This video does a better job than I ever could of explaining the process. But I did learn some interesting facts. TFC collects recycling from 247,000 households every other week. Their drivers are paid by the ton, which makes them happy on rainy days and also ensures that they collect as much recycling as they possibly can! They can only recycle narrow necked plastics with a 1 or 2, no fruit containers! And TFC is in the business to make money, so they are keeping their eyes on commodity prices, sending their aluminum to Kentucky and newspaper to Georgia and cardboard to China, where they get the most $$, that is where they send it.

Bettie Weaver Spring Recycling Bonanza April 21-23rd

In honor of Earth Day, we will be having our second Recycling Bonanza from April 21-23rd. Please send in the following items and we will get them to the proper collection facility:

Alkaline batteries (no damaged batteries, please)
Rechargeable batteries
Printer cartridges
Crocs(tm)
Cell phones (chargers, too)
Travel sized toiletries (for Embrace Richmond)
Children's magazines-gently used (for the CCPS free teacher store From Crayons to Computers)
Yogurt cups (no Yoplait or multipaks, please)
Plastic shopping bags
Packing materials (bubble wrap and styrofoam peanuts)

Why BYOBag is so important...

Do you have a hard time remembering to bring a reusable bag everytime you shop? Take the time and watch this slideshow, it may be just the thing to trigger your memory.

And many people mistakenly believe that paper bags are a much more eco-friendly option. Check out this chart from the Washington Post.


In the end, a reusable bag is the best way to go!